AP Gov Exam (Terms)

Question 1

Direct Democracy

Answer 1

allows citizens to directly govern and make laws. Considered a chaotic form of government.

Question 2

Participatory Democracy

Answer 2

values broad-based citizen participation in governing. Keeps government close to the people and their opinions

Question 3

Republicanism

Answer 3

allows citizens to elect leaders to govern for them. Retains important elements of broad public participation while also making governing less chaotic and more efficient.

Question 4

Elite Democracy

Answer 4

democracy that favors allowing the best educated and most qualified members of society to govern in the best interests of the country.

Question 5

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 5

promotes the sharing of power across diverse groups. Power is distributed throughout the system, therefore all groups are required to cooperate with one another.

Question 6

Natural Rights

Answer 6

rights given to citizens by God, meaning government cannot take them away

Question 7

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 7

The power of government to govern comes from the will of the people.

Question 8

Social Contract

Answer 8

An agreement between the government and its people, where the people give up some form of freedom in exchange for public safety

Question 9

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 9

an uprising of Revolutionary War veterans in Massachusetts that both the state and national governments struggled to address due to a lack of centralized military power, illustrated the need to create a stronger governing system.

Question 10

Article of Confederation

Answer 10

comprised the United States’ first constitution, lasting from 1776 until 1789. The Articles established a weak central government and placed most powers in the hands of the states.
Under the Articles, the US economy faltered, since the central government lacked the power to enforce tax laws or regulate commerce. Relied heavily on the idea of natural rights.

Question 11

Confederation

Answer 11

a form of government in which smaller units of government are the highest level of authority.

Question 12

National Government (under the article of Confederation)

Answer 12

• One branch of government: Congress
• equal representation from each state in Congress
• all laws must be passed with a super-majority (9 out of the 13 states must agree)
• Congress has the power to create a national currency, borrow money in the name of the united states, declare war, raise an army, and establish relations with foreign countries.

Question 13

The national government did not have (according to the articles)

Answer 13

• an executive branch
• a judicial branch
• the power to tax
• the power to compel states to contribute to funding or obey national laws
• any power that was not “expressly delegated” or specifically written in the articles

Question 14

Virginia Plan

Answer 14

proposed by the large states created a congress with two houses both based on representation

Question 15

New Jersey Plan

Answer 15

proposed by the small states created a congress with one house based on equal representation from each state

Question 16

3/5 compromise

Answer 16

a compromise between slave states and non-slave states in which a free slave would be counted as a whole person and a slave would be counted as 3/5 a person

Question 17

separation of powers

Answer 17

each branch of government (judicial, legislative, and executive) was given specific and unique powers that could not be exercised by the other branches.

Question 18

Checks and Balances

Answer 18

a system in ehich each branch was given certain powers over one another in order to prohibit one branch from being to powerful

Question 19

Electoral College

Answer 19

places a buffer between the people and the powerful position of president of the united states

Question 20

Enumerated Powers

Answer 20

powers specifically listed in the constitution

Question 21

Implied Powers

Answer 21

powers that are not specifically mentioned but are implied by certain phrases in the constitution